15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

London

I don't want to upset Bean before school, so we both refrain from telling her about the funeral, figuring that we'll tell her tonight after supper, before we both have to go to work. And just as I see them off to school, my phone rings, and my heart skips a beat. It's a blocked call and I hesitate to answer it, but I know that I have to, as much as it scares the hell out of me.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Ms. Perry?" The female voice asks, using my maiden name, which I changed back to after the divorce.

"Yes, this is." I answer tentatively.

"Ms. Perry, this is Special Agent Monica Winkler, of the F.B.I. Am I catching you at a bad time?" Her voice is all business, but warm.

"No. No, not at all." I can feel my hands tremble, so much so, that I'm having trouble holding my phone. I'm literally shaking with anticipation, wondering if this is the fated call that I've been waiting for, or if this is more bad news; that I have to flee once again.

"Ms. Perry, I'm calling to let you know that we have located the funds that Mister Titan misappropriated, and we're starting the second part of the investigation."

"Oh?"

"I'm not at liberty to go into detail on this, ma'am, however I thought I should touch base with you, and give you an update."

"Oh, okay." I'm stammering.

"We have notified the parties from which the funds have been misappropriated, and they are aware that they will be receiving their money back, once the investigation is complete."

"Does this mean that I'm safe? I can start to use my real name again, and I can go home if I want to?"

"Yes, ma'am, you can. You're free to carry on your life as you wish. The parties involved are well aware that they will be getting their money returned to them in short order, so you are no longer in any danger, ma'am."

My heart skips a beat. There's the Christmas miracle I've been waiting for.

"Are you serious?" I hiss gleefully. "You mean, I don't have to use this stupid name anymore, and I can stop walking around, constantly looking over my shoulder?"

"I don't advise you to tell anyone your story, ma'am, including any media, as there is still an embargo on any information, until the investigation is complete, however, this does mean, to be clear, that you are safe."

"You have no idea how happy this makes me. Thank you so much for calling."

She gives me her contact information. "I'll be in touch should the need arise, Ms. Perry. Until then, good luck, and feel free to contact me, should you need to."

"Thank you so much. Have a Merry Christmas."

"Same to you, ma'am."

She clicks off and I hang up, setting my phone on the counter, as I close my eyes tight, squeezing my fists together at my chest, squealing. It's like I just won the fucking lottery. No two ways about it. This means that it shouldn't be long before I can tell Cooper the truth. It's almost over. I'm safe. Bean is safe. Nobody is coming after us now, but we just have to keep everything on the Q.T. a little while longer, which makes it so much easier when I can see light at the end of the tunnel, knowing that the end is near.

There's an extra spring to my step as I deliver drink orders at Mingles. Let's face it, it's more than just the phone call, it's everything. I have a wonderful man in my life that loves me and my daughter to death, and I'm carrying his baby. I've always wanted to have another baby, and now I am. When I called the doctor shortly after the call, an appointment was available for Monday, just before the funeral, so I took it, since Cooper stated that he'd be booking that day off, anyway. I asked Colton if he'd take Bean for me and let her go for a horse ride, and he was more than happy to do that for me.

"How are you doing, baby?" Cooper asks, sneaking up behind me, as I fill a drink order at the bar.

"Good.You?"

He kisses my neck. "Great. But I need to pee, so I'll be back." He says, as he goes to take his break. Wade is flirting with a girl at one of the tables, and I just shake my head and smile. He is a lady's man for sure, through and through. Once I see Cooper come out of the men's room, I tell him about Monday. "Okay, great. I've booked the day off at school. We should tell Bean about the funeral tomorrow?" He says, since tomorrow is Saturday, and she'll be happy since Nate will be watching her.

"Yes. Give her some time to process or decide if she wants to go or not." I agree. He brings me closer to him, breathing in deeply, as if taking in my scent. He is so precious. Liz walks by and smiles.

"Look at you two. Could you be any more in love?"

"Probably not." Cooper says, kissing my forehead.

The sparkle in Liz's eyes warms my heart. "I told him last night."

Her smile brightens. "Congratulations. I take it you're excited to be a daddy."

"I am. Very excited." He says, snuggling closer to me, swaying from side to side.

Wade suddenly gets up on the stage and speaks into the microphone, looking at us. "Alright, you two are making me puke. Cooper, dude, get your ass up here."

Cooper rolls his eyes, even though Wade's tone is playful, as he adds a little chuckle at the end of his comment.

"Try banging on something else for a while." Wade adds with a laugh, and everyone seems to join in, like it's a goddamn comedy club. Cooper smacks him upside the head as he passes him, getting another laugh.

All Wade does is smooth his perfect hair back, and he gets some catcalling from girls at the table where he was flirting moments ago, and he speaks into the microphone. "You ladies feel like a Christmas tune or something a little more pumping?"

"Play something with balls!" One of the girls calls.

"What, Christmas balls?" Wade teases.

"Whatever works for ya, honey." She calls back.

"Alright, let's do something Christmassy, to get you going, and then we'll light this place up. Sound good?"

Cooper starts tapping on the cymbal, getting ready for their set, giving Wade a beat, and the bass guitarist starts up first, while Wade announces the song. Liz is still standing next to me. "So, how did he take it?"

I come back to reality, realizing what it is that she's asking. "He was great. Shocked but pleasantly shocked. Very excited."

"God, you're lucky. Some men put on a brave face, but inside, they're dying slowly." She says with a chuckle, but I don't know if she's speaking from experience or just from hearsay. "It's clear as day that he's tickled, girl." She says, looking at him. And she's right. Behind that drum kit, he's beaming, looking over at me, giving me a wink. I smile back at him. I want so badly to tell him that it's almost over, but he's so happy, and I don't want to remind him about things that still linger that are troublesome. We've still got a funeral to go to, after all. But hopefully the doctor's appointment before that will put things into perspective.

I don't know how I'm going to be able to keep all this happiness from Bean. I can't wait to tell her. And I can't wait to see what Cooper has in mind to surprise her with the news. Just thinking about it puts tingles in my stomach, and not just because I'm pregnant, either. So far I don't even have any symptoms of that yet. Cooper climbs behind his drum kit and the band starts up. His smile is a mile wide. And I'm sure that it's not just because he's playing his drums.

When we get home, it's so late, and Nate is asleep on the couch, so we leave him there, collapsing in bed ourselves. The next day we spend at Colton's ranch. Luke is over with his kids, so Bean plays with them, namely his eldest daughter, Cassandra, who is Bean's age. The twin boys, Brad and Brent, are a year younger. Bean is in her glory on the horses. She rides both of them with Colton's help, and then Luke and Cooper take a turn riding.

Colton looks at me when they return. "Would you like a turn?"

Cooper and I exchange a glance. "No, that's okay, thanks." I answer, knowing full well that it's not safe for me to mount a horse, since I've never ridden before, and now I am with child.

"Come on, I'll show you how. Bean will tell you how easy it is." Colton insists.

I try to come up with a lie, but Cooper beats me to it. "She's had a problem with her leg."

Colton lifts a brow but otherwise lets it go. If Wade were here, we'd be sunk, but he's not, so the subject is dropped. I'm not sure if he buys it or not, but as long as he doesn't draw attention to it, it's all good. The last thing I want is for Bean to find out this way. Not just for the obvious reason, but also because Cooper has something special planned for her, and she deserves that more than this. After a nice dinner at home and a Christmas movie, I lay in bed with Bean for a while, reading with her, just like we've always done. And she suddenly looks up at me and starts crying.

"What's the matter, baby?" I ask, holding her tight.

"Cassandra told me all about her mother, and how she died, and I'm so scared, mommy."

"Why, baby?I'm not going anywhere."

"Well, that's what her mom said, too, and she left, and then she died. Cassandra said her mother didn't want kids. She said it a hundred times, especially when she was angry, when Cassandra didn't listen to her." She sniffs. "Mommy, you wanted me, right?"

"Oh, sweetheart, I wanted you so bad, you came early."

"Did daddy want me?"

"Of course, he did, baby. Why would you think that?"

I can hear Cooper rising from the couch, likely overhearing Bean's crying.

"Because he wasn't nice to me. Not the way that Cooper's nice to me."

I look up and see Cooper standing there, smiling warmly. He walks in and offers some help. "Well, all parents are different, Bean. Everyone is usually closer to one parent than the other, and sometimes it switches. But I suppose because I don't have any little ones of my own, it makes me appreciate having you around, more."

Bean settles some. I feel her cuddle closer to me. Cooper slides in beside her, so she's sandwiched between both of us. When I feel her chest finally stop spasming, so I know that she's finished crying, I pull her closer to me. Bean looks up at me. "Mommy, can you stay here tonight?"

"Of course, baby. I'm not going anywhere."

Cooper looks at me and smiles. I smile back at him and kiss his awaiting lips. He mouths ‘love you', and I mouth it back. He carefully walks out of the room, leaving us, and I hold my baby tight all night. I so want to tell her that it's almost over. I so want to tell her that we're safe. But I know in my heart of hearts that now isn't the time. We still haven't told her about the funeral and as I think about it, I realize that there is one solution to that problem.

"I would do it in a heartbeat, but I've got back-to-back meetings on Monday afternoon." Colton explains. "And with such short notice, I can't switch them around. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. I understand. I should have said something sooner. We were only with you all day yesterday and I never said a word. I shouldn't even be asking you, considering you're watching her in the morning for me."

"Maybe Liz can watch her." He suggests.

"Sure. I'll ask."

Turns out, Liz is able to watch her, and in fact, she offers to come to Colton's ranch, so that she isn't trucked all over the place. Bean is really great with not asking questions, since she knows that Christmas is getting close, and her hunch is that we're going to do Christmas shopping. I don't confirm or deny her guess, I just smile. We lay in Bean's bed again, this time the three of us, reading to her, and then reading together, but again, I don't have the heart to leave her, and Cooper falls asleep next to me, so we end up camping out on Bean's bed for the night.

I have to wake him in the morning. "Jesus, you weren't kidding when you said that your tiredness catches up to you. I don't think you moved an inch all night." I tell him.

"Slept like a baby, though." He grunts, stretching, as Bean trots out of bed, eager to make Christmas pancakes again.

"I'll bet you did." I smile.

"Mommy! Cooper! Hurry up! I want to go over to Colton's house!" Bean just about shrieks, knowing that she's spending the day at the ranch again.

"Alright, Bean. I'll be right out." I say to her, and then I address Cooper. "You go on and get in the shower. I'll help her make breakfast."

Cooper kisses me on the mouth. "Sounds good. I won't be ten minutes."

"There's no rush, Cooper. We don't have to be at the doctor's for another hour and a half."

"Still. I don't want to miss out on them pancakes." He winks, walking to the bathroom, pulling his shirt off. I watch him as he winks again. It's only been a couple of nights, but I miss making love with him. His warm, soft skin is a perfect juxtaposition to his tight muscles and ass, as he works it, without even knowing it, all the way to the bathroom. Bean is so eager to go riding that she barely finishes her breakfast.

"Now, you behave for Colton, okay?" I tell her perfunctorily. "And Liz is going to watch you for just a bit this afternoon. Until we get home, okay?"

"Okay!" She says, not even complaining about the fact that she barely knows Liz. As long as she gets to be with the horses, she doesn't care. It also helps that Liz is Nate's mother, and she adores Nate.

The moment she's out the door, I feel Cooper's arms snake around me. "She's one hell of a kid."

"She is."

He kisses my neck tenderly. "How's about you head into the shower, and I'll clean up, so we can go to the doctor?"

"Sure.That sounds good."

I look at the clock in the kitchen. We've got another hour left. I give him a wink as he kisses my lips once more. Once I'm in the shower, just about finished, I hear Cooper in the bathroom. "Is everything okay?" I ask him.

He answers, as he opens the shower door, naked. "Everything is just fine, darlin'."

I smile. "Didn't you already shower?"

"I thought you might be lonely or need some help in here." He explains, walking into the shower, water immediately soaking his hair. The beads falling down his chest force my gaze to follow. His arms wrap around me as he pulls me close, not waiting another moment, before enveloping his lips around mine. Every nerve ending is awake as he seduces me in under three seconds.

My blood surges through my veins and my skin sings as his body is against mine, hands all over me, stopping at my ass. Cupping my cheeks, he pulls me to his hardness, at just the right height to kiss my clit with the shaft, making me moan involuntarily. His tongue sweeps inside my mouth as my fingers tangle in his hair. "God, Cooper." I breathe as his lips come off mine to go to my breasts. His one hand slides around and he circles my clit with it, as his lips make love to my breasts.

I climb fast from his nimble fingers and tongue. When I'm just about to come, he slips a finger inside, making my orgasm so intense, I cry out, thankful that Bean isn't home. As I come down, he rises and lifts me into his arms, thrusting into me as my back gently hits the tiled wall. "I couldn't wait another minute, baby." He pants, fucking me hard, answering my subconscious prayer. His cock fills me while his words spur me on. "You are so fucking sexy, London." He breathes against my lips as I feel his cock lengthen and thicken more and more with each pass, until it feels like it's going to explode, and I'm right there with him.

He grunts loudly as he comes, pushing me over the edge, letting my second orgasm catch as the head of his bursting cock touches the right spot inside me. His lips are on mine, making our climaxes incredible. He finally kisses my lips tenderly, signalling afterglow, and I pull my legs down as he holds me for safety. "God, I love you." He exhales. "You bring out so many good things in me."

"Like, the animal?" I chuckle softly.

"Yeah, that, too." He chuckles with me. "Is your back okay?" He asks between kisses. "I didn't violate you too harshly, did I?"

"Just harsh enough." I answer, wiggling my brows.

"Do you think the doctor is going to give me shit for this? Is this supposed to be a no-no while you're…delicate?"

"That's how I ended up delicate, so I'm going to say it's allowed." I reassure. "Besides, I doubt there will be any physical exam today. And the ultrasound will need to be booked."

"You be sure and let me know if I'm crossing the line, darlin'. Because, pregnant or not, I can't seem to get enough of you." He kisses me tenderly again, but with his big, swollen lips against mine, letting the kiss linger. "How far did you get with the shower?"

"I'd say I'm done. I just had to rinse."

We get out of the shower and get dressed, setting our clothes out that we're wearing to the funeral, and then we head out the door to go see the doctor.

…I only wish I'd known at the time that my life was just about to change…again…